Publishing Checklist For Self-Publishers

If you wish to self-publish, here is a handy checklist of questions you should ask yourself, before going to print: 

• Who will proofread and copy edit my manuscript? Select an experienced proofreader and copy editor, who can be trusted to do a professional job.
• Who will my book be sold to? Specify your targeted audience.
• Where are they? Find out the geographical areas where your targeted audience resides.
• How can I reach them? Use signboards, posters, direct mail and other forms of advertising to inform people about your forthcoming book.
• Get a professionally designed cover for your book. The cover is the first thing buyers will notice, so ensure that it is attractive and suits the theme of the book. Many great self-published books have been let down by bad cover design.
• Convert your manuscript into a professionally formatted eBook in both versions: .mobi (for Amazon) and .epub.
• Get an ISBN number. An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique numeric code, which is assigned to each edition and variation (except re-printings) of a book.
• Price your book competitively. Check the prices of books in the same genre, before fixing the price of your work.
• Find out about distribution channels. Look for distributors/ bookstores in the targeted locations, who will supply/sell your books to the targeted audience.
• Get active online before publication. The Internet can be a great place to generate some interest in your book, and a fan following for yourself. Use social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter, to spread the word about your writing.

Now, you can start printing paperbacks. First consider a short print run, before printing books according to demand. Always ensure that a high quality printer is used during printing, as bad prints can put people off even before they’ve read the first page of your book.

If you are too busy to write or don't have a way with words, you can always ask us to ghostwrite your book manuscript for you. StarEdits.com offers high quality ghostwriting services, and copy editing packages for improving the quality of your written manuscript. If you require professionally written/edited book manuscripts and memoirs, just email us at info@staredits.com or fill in our Contact Us form today.